Disclaimer: I am nothing but a worshipper of the great J.K. Rowling playing in her universe. Anything you recognize is not mine.

A/N: Updated 03-06-2005

DARK PHOENIX

Chapter 5: Revelations and Secrets

When Harry arrived at Diagon Alley, he headed directly to Gringotts. It was still pretty early, so there weren't many customers. Despite that fact, every single booth had a goblin behind it. Telling himself it was that obviously, Goblins were workaholics, Harry proceeded to a booth.

"I'd like to make a withdrawal," Harry told the Goblin.

"Do you have your key, Mr. Potter?" replied the Goblin. Obviously, Gringotts had some sort of identification charms. Unless it was just the fact that Harry's picture was in the Daily Prophet ever other day. That was problem. He had to be able to shop without being recognized.

Putting that off to solve later, Harry fished out his key from his Gringotts bag. He always used the same bag and it had a special hidden pocket for his key. He handed it over to the Goblin who examined it carefully.

"Very well. I'll have someone escort you to your vault. It also pleases me to tell you that the paperwork for your inheritance has been taken care of by Albus Dumbledore."

"Huh? What inheritance?"

"Sirius Black. He specified in his will that you were the heir to his possessions. Of course, you do not have access to them until your seventeenth birthday."

Harry was stunned at first, then enraged. If he needed proof of Dumbledore's manipulations, he had it now. Not only did he put his crooked nose in Harry's business, he had never even informed him. Probably thought he was "too young".

"So," he addressed the Goblin, "I don't have access to anything?"

"You do not have access to the Potter and to the Black Family Vaults as long as you are underage. The multiple estates you possess are in the hands of Headmaster Dumbledore who is acting regent. However, you have unlimited access to your trust fund," answered the Goblin helpfully.

This was even worse than he had imagined. That he hadn't been told of Sirius Black's will could pass. His death was still recent and it was a touchy subject. But that all these years he had been kept ignorant of what belonged to him! That was too much!

"Ah, there is something else you have access to," the Goblin interrupted his internal rant. "Sirius Black clearly requested that you be immediately given his motorcycle. If you wish to have it, I can have it brought here while you go to your vault."

"Yes, I'd like that." Harry replied neutrally. A motorcycle? Sirius had a motorcycle? Brilliant! That will certainly help me get around, he thought, The Knight Bus is too risky and I probably already have the Ministry of Magic after me for the magic I did at the Dursleys. I just hope I can stay a step ahead of them.

The ride to his vault was as uneventful as a roller coaster ride could be. Harry filled his bag generously; he had quite a few things to buy. He returned to the lobby where he was met with a sight that was really out of place.

A huge motorbike all shined up.

It was so big, Hagrid could probably ride it. (wink)

After a moment of staring disbelievingly at his new means of transportation, Harry managed to close his mouth. He thanked the Goblin, who looked at him strangely, and left the building with his new "toy".

Back in the street, he realised the motorcycle would make his shopping quite a bit more difficult. And he still needed to find a disguise. He had Death Eaters, the Ministry of Magic AND probably the Order of the Phoenix on his tail. If one of them caught him, his whole plan would be ruined before he had even started.

He was desperately looking for a solution when his gaze fell upon his salvation.

Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.

Harry quickly slipped in the back alley and knocked on the backdoor. Lady Luck was with him because a few seconds later, one of the twins answered.

"Hey, Harry, mate, good to see you! FRED," he called, "Guess who's come to visit!" He turned back to Harry. "So what brings you to our most humble store?"

"I need your help. Can I come in?"

"Sure, sure! HEY! What the bloody hell is that!" He was gaping at the motorcycle.

"A little something Sirius left to me. I need a place to stash it while I shop."

"Oh," George looked unsure of what to say. "Well, yeah, you could leave it here I guess."

"Hell! That's a brilliant bike. Where did you get it?" exclaimed the just arrived Fred.

"He got it from Sirius!" whispered George. Obviously they were afraid of upsetting Harry.

"No need to be all hush-hush you know. I'm not about to break. Not to mention it's bloody annoying!" Harry scolded, though he wasn't really angry at them. He had to admit he was unpredictable at best.

"Sorry, Harry. So what can we help you with?" asked George.

"I need a good disguise."

"A disguise? What for?"

"Well, see, in addition to Death Eaters wanting my hide, I also have the Ministry of Magic after me because I did illegal magic," explained Harry.

"Illegal magic? What happened?"

"I lost the protection I had at the Dursleys. I used magic to escape." Well that wasn't a lie.

"What about the Order?" asked Fred.

"Actually, I don't want the Order to find me either. If they do, they'll make me go back to Headquarters and I'm not ready to go back there..." Another half-truth, he was better than he thought at this. Telling not all the truth and leading people to the wrong conclusions was much more effective than outright lying. Easier to keep track of too. The twins looked hesitant though.

"Umm, Harry, you know the Order wants to protect you right," said George.

"And mom must be really worried right now," continued Fred, "You know how she gets."

"Look, I understand what you're saying. All I'm asking for is a day's head start. You know I can take care of myself, at least for one day. And if the Order can't find me, the Death Eaters won't either, trust me. So, you help me get a disguise, I do my shopping, I come back here and get my bike and then you go tell your mother I dropped by during the day and I was fine. You're not in the Order yet, right?" The twins acquiesced. "So you have no reason to believe I'm not supposed to be here. For all you know, there are Order members outside waiting for me."

The twins looked at each other, as if they were communicating without words. A moment later they turned back to Harry.

"Deal," said Fred, "You have one day."

"But you are not leaving here without a few secret weapons of our invention."

Harry smiled. Any attacker he met today wouldn't know what hit him.

TBC